THE ALPHA….
With the sunrise on Monday, January 12, 1970 at 1:47 PM in Amarillo, TX, a beautiful baby girl, Vanessa Dawn Jones was born to Emma Louise Jones-Edwards and Dwight Williams, Sr. She was later adopted in 1975 and raised by David Edwards, Sr.

Vennessa expressed her love for the Lord and was baptized on May 15, 1977 at the Little Rose Missionary Baptist Church under the late Rev. M. O. Ledbetter, Jr. She labored there for 26 years. She was part of the choir, and held many offices in the church. She was also one of the drummers for the Lake Area Workshop Choir under the direction of Shirley Grant. She helped out in the church where ever she was needed. In the Fall of 2003, she became a member of the Praise Center Family Church under Pastor Stephen Wiley.

Her formative years began with education in the Amarillo Public School System, Dubois in Summit, OK, Muskogee Public School System and higher education at Northeastern State University. Vennessa began working for Muskogee County Council of Youth Services in 1997, where she has touched many young people's lives for 9 years. She also was a member of many different committees and organizations in the Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Muskogee areas.

Vennessa has had a love for music since she has been on this earth. Therefore, it was no surprise when she found her way into a band. She began singing with Wall Street in 2001 until the Fall of 2002. In 2002, she found her place as one of the core members and was part of the creative process of forming the band, Phase III. She was the President of the business side of Phase III Entertainment Group. Her proudes accomplishment with the promotion of this group was the production of the Second Street Music Festival, which received statewide acclamation as being the premier Juneteenth Celebration throughout the region. As stated by the City of Oklahoma City's Mayor, Mick Cornett, The Daily Oklahoman and Perry Publishing and Broadcasting.

THE OMEGA….

The sunset of her life on this Earth came on Friday morning, January 27, 2006 at 3:15 AM in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Dorothy and L.O.D. Williams, Clarence and Louise Edwards and a brother-in-law, John Smith.

Remaining to celebrate her wonderful memory; her loving parents, David and Emma Edwards, Muskogee; her maternal grandparents, Melvin and Emma Jones, Amarillo, TX; 4 brothers, Dwight Williams, Jr., Amarillo, TX, Marlon & Dawn Edwards, whom she named "Tootie", Okmulgee, OK, David & Meekia "Ben" Edwards, Muskogee, and Demetrius Williams, Eugene, OR; a sister, Carressa Edwards-Smith; 5 nieces, Brittany, Olivia, Monique, LaShae and Kaniesha; 4 nephews, Dylan, Trystin, Rashon and John; special aunts, Cathy and Connie; special cousins, Charra, DaVonna and Crystal; her Earthly best friend, Starr "Sissy" Fisher; special friends, Pete Tillman "Peetie Weetie", Christ Terrell, Reggie Brunner, Nichol Cotton-Mason, Full Flavor, Wall Street, Kalazh; along with a great host of other relatives and friends.

The final tribute to "Nessa" will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2006 at 2:00 P.M. in the Praise Center Family Church, 7th & Court. Pastor Stephen Wiley will officiate. The Christian Committal will follow in Booker T. Washington Cemetery in Muskogee. You may visit Vennessa, as she slumbers at the Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc., on Friday from10:00 AM until 7:00 P.M.